Carpet cutter



July 22, 1952 p w.A.R1E 2,603,866v

y `CARPET CUTTER Filed May 11, 1950 v 2 sHEETsf-SPEET 1 ATTO R N EY)`l July 22, 1952 v w. A. RICE 2,603,856

' CARPET CUTTER Filed May 11, 195o asylum- SHEET 2 ,3 h INVENTOR.

ma@ ,Pu BY 2M@ AMS ifm m Patented July 22, 1952 i' .Waiter acorporatioii of New York Application-May 11, 1950,! se1jla1Nliisi408 This invention relates to devices for cutting pile, fabrics; suchV as carpets: and rugs, in Y which the'pileV is .usually formed; of either tufts .or loops of heavyv wool yarn. HMore particularly, thel invention is concerned withv anovel device, which v may b e employed forcutting pile fabrics lying facegup onasurface. Y Y.

Pileyfabrics of the type; employed fory oor coverings and having a` heavy wool yarn pile .haveheretofore oinmonly been outback up'by meansfoga knife orrheavy shears. [In such a cutting operation the fine chainbinder warps and-the filling yarns serveas guides' and, by their use, afslzilful personcan make anacceptable cut between adjacent longitudinal ortransverse rows ofpilevelements. Cutting such `a fabricface up presents greaterfdifculties because the lines bef tiifenr adjacent rows fof ,pile elements are usually obscredtoa greater or less degree. j

Thefpresentinvento'n is4 directed to the provisionfoflapile,fabric' cutteryqwhich ca n be success'fullyemployed .in cuttixig .such fabrics face upv along linesflyingf-between rows 'of' tufts or loops. In the new cutter'githe cutting, is done by1abladey whichis heldY rigidly in place in a frame and `cannot shift its position'jduring cutting. The blade is so mounted vthatrit's effective cutting edge extends lengthwise of vthe line of cut at a low angle to the horizontal .and the blunt forward edge of the blade passes between rows of pile elements of the fabric, as the cutting proceeds, and serves as a guide. Beneath the blade, means are provided for elevating the fabric along a fiat slope toward the rear end of the cutting edgeof the blade and, as the cutter is advanced through thefabric, the backing of thefabric is severed gradually during therelative movement of the fabric and blade. For. a better understanding of the invention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawing, in which i Y Y v Fig. 1 isa side elevational view' on a slightly reduced scale of one form of the new cutter;

Figs. 2 and 3 are full scale sectional views of the, new cutter on the lines 2-2 and 3- 3, ref spectivelylof Fig. 1;.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view on a slightly reduced scale of the cutter with the handle and knife retracted and parts broken away;

Fig. 5 isla side elevational view on a slightly reduced scale of .a second formof the new cutter with the khandle retracted and parts broken away;. Y c

,.Fig. 6` isa full scalev view-in front elevation oi' the.second.fonn ofthe mittenV `Y Y l 'commis'. (cl. 304294).: 1 1 Y. i

-Figs-."1 and 8 are sectional views?n'thelines 1 -1 ands-a rspecuvdyfof Figgc; anja,

9v is a side elevational' viewlonlafslghtly. reduced scale of the second-formff thfcutter inwerking condition.-

vThe..cutter in the'f'orm shown `in"` Figs.A ii'iclu'sive comprises 4a frame made up :of aba'se land a pair of spaced "sides lvingf l'ngs IT secured to the-top ofntheba'sel near the' rear end thereof. Each of rthe sides has sa part`'2ris'in`g` vertically Yfrom its `flar'1g' e` v and, another l'part .'13y extending forwardly from Ypai"t' .fl 2 and .overhanging theV base. The lowerl edgSfM fof tliejparts I3 fof the-sides li spaced. .above van',d 'pa'rallel tto the base toI forma sltf `1iav`ing an' i'entrancef L5 nearthe'forward end'lof the basel' At their forg. ward ends, the parts "I3are"bent'tward. one another and united and,'i `f' "des'rdyth skies,I including partslIZ and I3 andflariges I l, may be made o f` asingle'piece ofmetal. At the rear end 'ofI the slot, the. forwardedges of parts I' 2' of thefsides arecut back andbent Vtoward each' otherV to meet and form a,separatingedgelli and thebevelled surfaces l'l lto the rear f edge I6 act, Y.to 'spread apart the pieces f carpet divided bythe cut'.

.A pair of. spaced walls-i8 are attached to the topof base I U .by integral flanges'I9,'t;h'e4 walls being spaced Aabout' vthe `same vdistance as parts i2 and. I3 of the sides,ofthe'frame.`Y vThe walls terminate'close `to .the forward ends o'f'vygiartsv'l2y and'th'eir rear e'ndsfliev flushwith the 'side`s of partsl 2` below the separatingedge l l .1 t T Ihe' kwalls decrease ,inl` height; in" theffoiwam directionto merge with the tops of their lianges YISfinjavand from the forward ends ofthe flanges.T'J f I .'lhe. cutter isr proi'lided witha handle-#formed of Vatubular section gli closedlby caps- 2lV `and hailing* :gmfallY-z. radial: platea v22.; pitionsf whichwregrtend into the *space*betweenl partsf-IZ o f thesides at the rearends'thereof. separator plate 23 is mounted between plates v22l andisjheld in placel adjacent section gzll by rivets A24. knife 25 having a ythielrriess yapproximately ,equal-:to thespacebetwee plates 2-2 has-ashankY 25a' exe' tendingbetweenthe portions of plates I2.2` lying beiweenparts AIi yof the sidesand'a bou 261s' passed through openings inparts l2, aplatesy 22:, and the shank- 25a to pivot 'the' knife and handle onj the sides of theframe.v A,'Ilieknife 25,*may be swungVVV onthebolt 26 to enter the -spacebe- `tweengplates 22and abut plate 23..and. when" the knife isinthat positio'mthe portion'of Ythe knife providedevwith a cutting edge. is exposedv beyond theedges aiofi plates `2z.` 4i The. .Hamme "may, than be swung down to cause plates 22 to enter the space between sides I3. A ball 21 is mounted in a hole in plate 23 and projects through openings in plates 22. When the handle has been swung down between the sides of the frame, the projecting portions of the ball enter openings 28 in parts lI3 of thel sidesl to hold the handle and knife inv proper operating condition.v The lower edge of uthe' knife then projects into the sloty sharp and extending into'the space betweenwalls f8 at.r the high rear ends thereof;

. Inthe use of` thef-cutter; the end Ijw ofthe base IiU is inserted 'under the bottom of the carpet andthe cutter is advanced; with the' blunt front end 29 and section 30a of the knifev passing between adjacent rows of' tufts and serving asl a guide during the` cutting.` vDuringzthe forward movement of` theiciitter, vthe'backin'g'rises o nthe tops of walls I8 and, isv forced against the sharp section 30h of the edge of the knife. The' backing i'sthusj cut through gradually and the Cutting is completed'just ahead' of the rearV ends, of walls I8.' The separa-ting edge- I'I spreads apartl the two pieces of carpet formed bythe cutyso that the cut edges do not'bear against the'surf'aces-of parts I2' ofthe sides and thus retard'l the forward.

movement of thernitter. Y

The secondj form of the new cutter shown Figs. 6-9, inclusive, is generally similar'to the first form but is adaptedY for use withfa thinY exible blade of the safety razor type. `The second form of the cutter comprisesa base 3i fr 'orn'l the rear end of whichY rises a frame' made off sides, 3-2 vprovidel with flanges 32a; secured tol the top of the base. 'Each sidej'has forwardly extending portions 33,v which overhangand are spaced from the base at its forward end, and the sides are kept separated by filler plates 34]'and, 35.4 lying, respectively,V between the vertical por-fv tions of the sides Yand thev free ends' thereofiand heldin place by rivets- 36; Theedges off thefsides adjacent the Vforward edge ofu thefiller plate 3'4 are cut; away and' bevelled 'as' indicated" atv 31, these surfaces serving to spread apartV the` 'cut edgesfof the carpet. j'

A pair of walls 38 aremounted' in spaced relationon the baseA forward of*A the sidesand; extend lengthwise of the base, the walls havingV flanges 38a.I secured tothe tp'ofthe-base. The-top Surfac-es 39 of the walls are highestat'the rearjend andV the wallsgradually decrease in lieightY toward-- the forward end thereof. j Y

The cutter is providedwi-th a; handleinjthe formzof a sheet ofmetal bent'- toforin` a 'tube 40 having generally radial extensions' 4I therefrom land', at one end', the extensions are'narrowand lie between the sides i12-andA arepivoted; thereto near their free ends by al screw 42; The extensions `4I areprovided with three pins-43';V lwhich provide a.. seatfor a thin4 flexible blade 44? inserted. betweenk thefree endsu of theV extensions 4I?, and when the blade rests against pins- 43, one .edgelo the blade. projects beyond the ends-off the lextensions and lies. atan angle thereto. l .When therv cutters to. be 'used', thehandleis aeoaece 4 swung down, until the free ends of the exten-I sions 4I pass between the portions 33 of the sides and the edges of the narrow portions 4Ia of the extensions bears upon the upper edge of the filler block 34. With the parts in this position. the sharp lower edge 44a of the blade projects beyond the ends of extens'xjns-v 45| at an angle, withzthe rearendof thegedge lying close to the top `o'f the base and between the hig'hportions of Walls 38. The front end edge and corner 44D 'of' the blade are blunt and these parts of the blade,v together with the forward vertical edges of extensions 4I, actas a guide which passes be. tween adjacent rows of tufts during the cutting operation.

' In the use of the cutter, the front end of the base is inserted beneath the bottom of the carpet 45 and, as the cutter is advanced, it is guided between the rows of tufts 4E by the means referred to. The backing of the carpet rises along the Vtops of walls II as the cutter isv moved, and the backing is gradually lforced against' 'andv along; the sharp edge 44 of the blade'and cut through. The two pieces of carpet formed by the cut then pass on either side of the exposed portion of the filler block 34 and along thefbevelled edge'sof'f the sides. During the cutting, the' thin-flexible blade is held rigidly in place and: prevented from flexing, because almost th'eentire area ofA the blade lies between the extensions 4|j .and the as# sernbly ofthe extensions andthe blade fits ti'gh fyl img the Space between the overwegingen-1* tions 33 of the sides of the frame. The. Contact of the blade with ythe fabric tends tor-force the blade more firmly against yits seatformedby-pins 43. When the blade becomes dull, the handle is swung to the positionv shown in, Fig," Y5.A where# upon the blade may be readily removed and: re,- versed, ifv a double edge blade is used, ora newY blade may be placed` in positionifnecessary.-

lwhen the knife in' the; first form of thecutter becomes dull, the handle and knifew may be to the positions shownf'n. F154 and. theedge off, the knife then sharpenedfby a stone. I fj, for any. reason, replacement of. the knife is 'Iiegll di. the. bolt 26l may be, removed and., anew knife ne. serted in position. 5

I. claim.: l t

11.. 'A pile fabric cutter, which comprises. a'base.. spacedparallel sidesattachedtoand rising frein: the basenear its rearfend'and having forwardlye, extending portions overhangingI thebase., said. forwardly-extending portions having, lcwer edges' lying above thebase and with the latter defining, a, slot into which, the fabricv to be cut 'may` be inserted., a handle'pivotally attached to thesfes.. and, including a handle element and. a. pair of; spaced. parallel platesprgiecting.from'the haben' element into the Space' btweens'dlfolwaldyextending portions, a cutting `element`'n i'ojiritedbetween said plates with a part' ofitslfroni;vr end' and-its-cutting edge'exposedbelow the free 'edges of said plates and theflweredgesY ofithe` for?! wardly-extendingportionsy of 4the sides. they ront end of the cutting element being Vblunt andi opierable as a guide for the fabric, and-apairl-f wallie risingfrorn the base and extending? lengthwise thereof at oppositeV sides: of the plane4 ff the eiltting element, the topsurfacesof the-forward ends of the, walls lyingl below the le'vel of thet'op 'fthe slotand'below the :level ftheforward?portieri-of7 the cutting edge offtliet cutting element, saiidf-tp' surfaces of the walls sloping upwardly towiair therear ends of the walls: te.' aposition abovelthe level of the cuttinggedge Oithecuttrgfelement' at the rear end thereof, and said plates being movable from between the sides by swinging movement of the handle.

2. A pile fabric cutter as defined in claim l in which the cutting element is pivotally attached to the sides near the rear ends thereof.

3. A pile fabric cutter as defined in claim 1 in which a stop is positioned between the plates and the cutting element engages the stop.

4. A pile fabric cutter as dened in-claim 1 in which the forward portion of the cutting element lies forwardly of the forward ends of the walls, the forward portion of the lower edge of the cutting element is blunt, and the cutting edge of the cutting element rearwardly of the blunt front edge portion is concave.

5. A pile fabric cutter which comprises a base, spaced parallel sides attached to and rising from the base near its rear end and having forwardlyextending portions overhanging the base, said forwardly-extending portions having lower edges lying above the base and with the latter defining a slot into which the fabric to be cut may be inserted, a handle pivotally attached to the sides and including a handle element and a pairvof spaced parallel plates projecting from the handle element into the space between said forwardlyextending portions, a cutting element mounted between said plates with at least a part of its cutting edge exposed below the free edges of said 3 plates and the lower edges of the forwardly-extending portions, the cutting edge of the cutting element and portions of the base defining a free 6 space in the slot below the cutting edge ofthe cutting element which converges to and terminates at an apex on the cutting edge .of the cutting element, whereby when a pile fabric is inf serted into the slot and moved to the rear thereof, it will be brought into engagement with the cutting edge, said plates being movable from between the sides by swinging movement of the handle.

6. A pile fabric cutter as defined in claim 5 in which said portions of the base comprises apair of walls rising from the base and extending lengthwise thereof at opposite sides ofthe plane kof the cutting element, the top surfaces of the forward ends of the walls lying below the level of the top of the slot and below the level of the forward portion of the cutting edge of the cutting element, said top surfaces of the walls sloping upwardly toward the rear ends of the walls to a position above the level of the cutting edge of the cutting element at the rear end thereof.

WALTER A. RICE.

REFERENCES CTED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 443,77 3 Laufer Dec. 30, 1890 1,575,127 Podhradsky Mar. 2, 1926 2,238,678 Cook Apr. 15, 1941 2,265,775 McNamara Dec. 9, 1941 

